Kinky, 'Barracuda'

The buzz: Highly successful in their native Mexico and throughout Latin America thanks to hits like “Más” and "A Dónde Van Los Muertos?", Kinky have yet to see their mostly Spanish language alternative poptronica cross over into America, despite three previous albums and some notable song placements on U.S. television (a Nissan commercial and Showtime's “Dexter” among them). 

The verdict: How you feel about Kinky’s fourth effort will likely be determined by how you view their overall progression toward more gloss, increased pop, bigger beats and added sonic trendiness (hey, ‘80s British New Wave!). If you see it as a good path, leading Kinky into a mainstream future without short-changing their more nuanced, fun past, then you’ll be right at home with “Barracuda.” If instead you wish they’d get back to being the more interesting band you first enjoyed—the group that knew how to let a beat breathe, wasn’t afraid to slow it down, and veered more toward rocky electronica than alt-dance-pop—well, this just isn’t your Kinky record. Both camps ought to be able to agree on one thing: “Those Girls” (featuring Molotov's Randy Ebright) is a catchy hybrid that should get most everybody out on the floor.
 
Did you know? In 2007, Kinky wrote the theme song for L.A. professional soccer team the Galaxy, dubbed “We Are the Galaxy.”

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